Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-06-04
NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA.
Congressman Elect Che"die Tells About
Its DeNelopr"-nt->omr Theories.
.S,,..,., ID 4

Congressman Elect Cheo,lie Tells About
Its DeNeinprn-nt->om- Theories.
.Spec.I Correspondence
NEW NORK. Nav SJ-Hon Joseph Il
Cheoile, congressman elect from the Ninth
district of Indiana, spent a day or two in thi.
city un his way to Washington recently, and
in "A half hours ronN cr~atinn received from
him many curious facts about the natural IA,
excitement IN that state While few for
tunare places are rejoicing over their good
luck and scores of towns are boring the
learned are speculating about tire origin and
nature of the stuff. the theories varying all
the WAY from swamp gas 10 fire damp.
''rhe most southern points at which gas has
been dcvelopet,' said Mr.. Cheodle, ARE al
Greensburg and a place five miles north Of
lndianaIn,IIS: hut the stuff seems 10 outdo tn.
interstate commerce hill in the attempt Il
give villages show. They cannot find it al
all in the large citiss. while some small and
obscure places have plenty Of ii. You may
say that the belt extends through the north
center of the state 10 the Ohio line, being, in
fact, continuous with the Ohio gas belt. The
best developments are at kokumO and No
blesville, but the same conditions no doub,
continue westward TO the Wabash"
And does it depend on the vicinity of Goa
or carboniferorIS rocks
"0h. no: quite the contrary 1t is away
back of the coal period; It is in the Trenton
formation that they expect 10 find gas. The
best wells. I believe, are at Noblesville, Nun
Gle and Kokomo, but as gas is found in sev
eral other places there Is no reason to doubt
that much better wells will be developed"
"And the people are enthusiastic about it,
suppose
"Oh, wonderfully so. Ii is the sensation OF
the day. 1t must be very poor town that
isn't boring or raising the money to bore. In
fact. gas is 50 popular that il is credited with
producing all the odd movements under
ground that We couldn't account for hereto
fore. The flow Of water from the arteSian
wells is supposed 10 he from gas pressure. Al
Clinton, in my native county, they bored
about 500 feet and struck salt water and gas
both, and the pressure WAS at one time great
enough To force the tools up out Of the hole
The gas bubbles up through the water and
the bubbles can lie set un fire. The local re
ports give US these facts: At La fontaine
Wabash county, the bore went down 40 feet
and when but six feet into the Trenton rock
tapped a splendid reservoir Of gas. They de
termined to 90 deeper, but the drill was for
some time forced back by the gas. 1t was
Withdrawn: there Was sort Of explosion,
and water and loose rock flew a hundred feet
into the air. They confidently announce that
they have the best well in the state Bloom
ington sank II drlil :, 80 feet and found moth
ing but salt water, but boasts Of having gone
deeper than any other town in the
state. At Charlottesville Trenton rock was
struck ut n depth of 49, feet, when the drill
was Immediately lost-dropped mo cavity,
perhaps At any rate it could not lie recov-
cred. The popular confidence was ~ great
that the city had granted the exclusive right
to lay pipes un tn" STREETS AMI supply families
with natural gas. Other towns have granted
the franchise To- bore and pipe, but in most
places the work is dome by organizations of
citizens. The locii scientists are already in a
wordy war over the subject, Us each town
has no use for "A professor who does not think
his town is in the belt. Professor orton, state
geoiogist of Ohio, declares that ~ per cent.
Of na.ural gas is merely swamp gas, but as
tina; auuld involve the awkward conclusion
that the supply is very limited-no swsmls
near, NO gas-his views are attacked with
som. Vehenience.'
Mr.. Cheodle does not venture on II scien-
tif.. opinion, and only gives the facts
krown. He is distinguished one Of the
ysry few country editors OF Indiana who has
sceiSeri political honors. A native of Yer
nilion county, Indiana, he made an hon
oral,e war record la the Eighteenth Indiana
volunteers, and served a long term as country
editor before having chance to serve in
"Ungress. | may say. therefore, that he is
authority on the subject Of natural gas
}. II. PAgkE.